Bruce unit 7 has become the first nuclear power reactor in the world with installed capability to produce the medical radioisotope lutetium-177. The isotope, which is used in the treatment of cancers such as neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer, will be produced from ytterbium targets irradiated in the reactor.

Westinghouse Electric Company has signed memorandums of understanding with ten Polish companies for cooperation on the potential deployment of AP1000 nuclear power plants in Poland and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lessons learned through the COVID-19 pandemic have enabled Kazatomprom's assets to operate throughout recent events in Kazakhstan. The overall impact of the recent period of unrest on the company's business has been minor, but pandemic-related supply chain challenges remain a concern, it said.

Ukraine's Energoatom would like to license Westinghouse's AP1000 technology after the initial five units that are already being planned, the company's CEO, Petro Kotin, said in an interview with EnergoBusiness magazine. Energoatom is currently weighing up its options for suppliers to its programme.

Main components for India's Kudankulam unit 6 are being manufactured in Russia. Construction of the VVER-1000 reactor officially began one month ago.

Kazatomprom's offices, production facilities and mines have not been impacted by civil unrest that began in the country on 2 January and are operating normally, the company has said. The company added that it was working to prevent destabilisation of its production sites, but a high risk of supply chain disruptions could result in limited access to key operating materials.

Disruptions in Kazakhstan, where ongoing unrest may add to pre-existing operating risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could be a "significant catalyst" for the uranium market, Canadian uranium company Cameco has said. Kazakh uranium producer Kazatomprom has said it will meet all delivery deadlines.

A Memorandum of Understanding between Framatome and Exelon Generation will see the two companies work towards the production of cobalt-60 in pressurised water reactors for medical and industrial uses.

A programme to make Ukraine self-sufficient in uranium by 2027 has been approved by the country's cabinet. Nuclear power is planned for significant expansion beyond the 54% of electricity it already provides in Ukraine.

The US Department of Energy is asking the public for its input on plans to create a new programme to assure the availability of high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel - needed for the demonstration and commercial deployment of advanced reactors - in the USA. Meanwhile, Centrus is working with Clean Core Thorium Energy on advanced fuel using HALEU and thorium.

Nuclear fuel cycle companies are taking steps to reduce their operational carbon emissions through recent announcements. Orano is partnering with freight rail operator Fret SNCF to develop its carbon-free transport in France and Europe; UK company Nuclear Transport Solutions' rail division has launched a new locomotive design to trial the use of a low-emission renewable alternative to diesel; and in Russia, ARMZ Mining Machinery has increased the use of battery-operated machinery at its Priargunsky mining operations.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Rolls-Royce SMR Limited and Sheffield Forgemasters to jointly explore commercial mechanisms for a long-term collaboration on the supply of forgings to the Rolls-Royce UK small modular reactor fleet. A Rolls-Royce-led UK SMR consortium aims to build up to 10 SMRs by 2035.